Carey Services will participate in the observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month during October by emphasizing education through the agency’s social media outlets and website.

Carey will celebrate the many individuals with disabilities in the local workforce and employers who employ people with disabilities  throughout the agency’s nine-county North Central Indiana service area. Area community members are invited to participate as well.

“This is a great time to celebrate employment for people with disabilities,” said Jim Allbaugh, Carey Services’ president and chief executive officer. “Our celebration really started in July as we celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the passage of the American’s with Disabilities Act.”

Allbaugh said the theme for this month’s celebration is “My Disability is One Part of Who I Am.” The 2015 observance also marks the 70^th year the observance has been conducted.

“Employers in our area have been open to embracing individuals with disabilities in their workforce,” said Greg Maynard, Carey’s director of fund and strategic advancement, “but there is still more work to be done to assure individuals with disabilities have employment opportunities. Individuals with disabilities provide quality products, and they are a vital part of our workforce.”

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in the state. In issuing the proclamation, the governor noted the employment challenges people with disabilities continue to face. “Despite our successes,” he said, “less than 40 percent of working-aged Hoosiers with disabilities are employed; a reminder that we all still have work to do to ensure equal opportunity and participation in the workforce.”

The Carey Services vision statement drives the agency’s work to improve employment and create other successes for people with disabilities, Allbaugh said. That guiding statement is: “Carey Services envisions all people, regardless of their abilities or barriers, as empowered and equally valued members of the community.”

For more information about National Disability Employment  Awareness Month, click here.